Azhar Ali comforted by Younis Khan presence in Abu Dhabi Test

Pakistan end Day 1 on 304 for two after both batsmen hit unbeaten centuries. Osman Samiuddin reports from Abu Dhabi.

Younis Khan scored his 27th Test hundred in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Marwan Naamani / AFP

ABU DHABI // If this is what happens when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) makes Younis Khan angry, then perhaps they should rile him up more often.

Younis continued breaking batting records on the first day of the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi, a third century in three consecutive innings leading Pakistan to an imposing 304 for two at close.

The hundred – Younis’s 27th – also marked a fairly obscure record: he became the first batsman in almost 90 years, since England’s Herbert Sutcliffe, to score three hundreds in three innings against Australia.

He was joined in an unbroken stand of 208 by Azhar Ali, who brought up his own hundred in the last over of the day, his sixth.

That score meant Pakistan had scored 1,037 runs for 11 wickets since they were tottering at seven for two on the first morning in Dubai. Given their travails against Australia, it is a scarcely believable statistic.

“Since the conditions were good for batting and we also won the toss we needed to put a big total on the board,” Azhar said.

“The opening partnership helped us to carry the momentum and everything went according to the plan.”

This was Azhar’s fourth century partnership with Younis and the effect he has had on Pakistan’s junior batsmen has been spectacular.

“It is always great to have a partnership with him as I feel really comfortable playing with him,” Azhar said. “He guides you through an innings and executes the game as well from the other end, giving me a sense of comfort.”

It was yet another difficult day in the field for Michael Clarke and his men, a continuing pattern in subcontinent – or similar – conditions.

Clarke literally tried everything he could, changing his bowlers round and setting unusual fields but coming away with no reward.

In addition, they missed a number of chances, including missing Azhar twice, when he was on 34 and 46. It was the kind of day in the field they used to have in Pakistan in the 80s.

“Tough day, no doubt about it,” he said. “I think we tried just about everything. I tried just about everyone for a few overs there. [Set] some unorthodox fields. Unfortunately we couldn’t manage to take as many wickets as we would have liked.

“By the end of the day I didn’t have too many ideas left. I think I tried everything.”

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